Turf Club members to Take The Plunge for cystic fibrosis research

For two Clifford Park racing identities, cystic fibrosis is personal with both having family members living with the condition.

WHEN the Toowoomba Turf Club staff and members take on a cause they really dive in.

And, that’s exactly what some hearty souls will be doing when a group representing jockeys, trainers and Turf Club members will plunge into the horse training pool – all in the name of cystic fibrosis (CF) research.

For two local racing identities CF is personal.

Toowoomba Club CEO Lizzy King’s 23-year-old niece Riley lives with the condition and head steward Clayton Warren’s two-year-old son Isaac also has CF.

“When Riley was born, medicine and technology was holding its own and keeping up,” Ms King said.

““Riley has been lucky over the years to be accepted into some drug trials, which have proven to be wonderful for her.

“It’s fundraising like Take The Plunge that offers so much opportunity for research to continue and provide a wonderful future for CF patients.”

QRIC steward Clayton Warren said since Isaac was diagnosed, life for him and his young family had been full of medical appointments, tests, operations, daily physio and treatments.

“I want to increase CF awareness and raise funds for research to bring hope and further advancements for children like Isaac,” he said.

Testing the waters for the Take The Plunge challenge are (from left) Maddie Sears, Charlotte Warren, Andrew Catlow, Isaac Warren and Clayton Warren. Picture: Nev Madsen.

“There have been breakthroughs in the treatments for CF and drugs like trikafta and

ivikafta that have been developed are great, but they still don’t work for a lot of kids

and people like Isaac as with his type of CF those drugs won’t have any effect.

“There are a lot of studies and trials going on now and hopefully in the next 10 to 15

years there will be something like trikafta for him.”

Take the Plunge will be held after trackwork at 8:45am on Thursday, July 28, at the Clifford Park pool.

Along with Ms King and Mr Warren, Turf Club honorary treasurer Andrew “Dudley” Catlow, trainer Maddie Sears and jockey Stephanie Lacey will also take the plunge.

”We’re hoping to raise $6000 but hopefully we’ll get even more than that,” Mr Catlow said.

You can donate at https://take-the-plunge-for-cystic-fibrosis.raisely.com/toowoombaracingindustryunitesforcf.